Free Discovering April by Sheena Hutchinson

to be late.”
    Rising to my feet, I walk over to his motorcycle and strap back on my helmet.
    “No seriously, why can’t I have him?”
    “Oh, maybe because he’s 40 and a married has-been!” He climbs on the bike first, bracing his hands on the handlebars.
    “Listen Mr. Scrooge, I can’t help if I’m a dreamer,” I say as I sneak in behind him, laying my hands at my sides.
    “Oh are you now?” I hear him loud and clear before he mumbles, “Coulda fooled me.” It’s barely audible but I pick it up.
    The motorcycle jerks out onto the main road and I grab at him suddenly. We ride through the scenery of the few towns that separate us from the school, feeling the fading warmth of the sun as autumn has officially begun. The leaves on the trees have turned their golden shade, and some sprinkle down as we make our way to North Commons University. I duck behind Jared’s back to hide from the cool wind whipping my cheeks. Beginning to feel his warmth, I once again find myself sliding closer to him on the seat.
    Before I know it we are pulling up to the school. Jared whips into the parking lot in front of the Hall. I can’t help but notice we are gathering a lot of attention. He idles while I clumsily climb off the back of his bike. Once I have both feet on the ground again, I turn around to thank him, but Jared has already zoomed off towards the dorms.
    Taking a deep breath, I gather my strength and walk towards my first class. Feeling eyes on me the entire way, I head up the three flights of stairs in the Old Building to English and collapse into a chair by the window. Glancing across the field, I catch sight of Jared. Like a stalker, I watch as he straps his tool belt around his waist while giving some of his guys directions. He leans over, staring at some papers for a while. My eyes wander down his body, stopping at that perfect…
    “He’s hot, right?”
    It’s then I notice I’m biting my nails. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I respond to the girl with the dark eyes.
    Looking at her now, I realize she’s the girl who always comes in late, usually with a different guy kissing her goodbye. She has perfect olive skin and dark curly hair I always wished I had. My hair will barely hold a curl; it’s just plain straight and boring. That’s why I added the pink tips.
    “You know exactly what I’m talking about! Hot pants over there in the tool belt!” Leaning over my desk, she checks Jared out now through the window. “You two dating? What’s the story?”
    “No, we are … neighbors.”
    “Neighbors, huh? Is that why you two are carpooling?” She smirks, reading my face.
    “Yup.”
    “Okay, then you won’t mind if I do!” She licks her lips, finally getting to her real point.
    The teacher walks in just as I begin to feel a stab of jealousy tear through me. Why? It’s Jared. This girl is totally not his type; she’s all wrong. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jared with a girlfriend. I don’t even know what his ‘type’ would be. Maybe it is her? What if it is? I’d have to watch her come home with him.
    I don’t realize I’m shaking my head until she whispers, “You okay?”
    “Just forgot to do my homework,” I mutter, keeping my eyes on my notebook on the desk.
    “Girl, I never do my homework!” she scoffs. She pulls out a notebook of sketches and begins to doodle.

    WORD OF MY RIDE to school must have traveled through the entire campus because I feel people looking at me when I’m in line at the cafeteria. I feel someone cut the line next to me and slam a tray down.
    It’s Hunter. “Tool bag Jared? April, I thought you could do better.” And with that, he’s gone.
    I don’t even look after him. His words still hurt me to my very core. What’s that supposed to mean?
    Struggling to hold back tears, I try to confidently walk to an empty table in the corner and eat my lunch in peace. The rumor mill is whispering about me and I close my